Date of birth:

March 12th, 1917 (Apeldoorn/Gelderland, the Netherlands)

Date of death:

June 5th, 1942 (over Octeville-sur-Mer, North of Le Havre, France)

Nationality:

Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)

Rang/eenheid:

2e Luitenant-vlieger in 1e Ja.V.A., Jachtgroep Veldleger, 2e Luchtvaartregiment

Govert Steen was born in Apeldoorn on March 12th, 1907. During the May-day war in 1940 he flew the Fokker D.XXI "215" with 1e JaVa from Ypenburg airfield with as his wingman Jan Linzel and later with Fokker G.1B "343".

After the Dutch capitulated he was able to get a job with Fokker in April 1941. During the night of May 5th/6th, 1941 he managed to steal a Fokker T.VIIw with Fokker technician Wybert Lindeman form the Mindervahaven in Amsterdam. With thie plane they flew with passengers Lieutenant Jan Beelaerts van Blokland and resistance fighter Wim Boomsma to England. After having been fired upon by British Anti-Aircraft fire, they managed to make an emergency landing end were with police escort transported to London.

Govert Steen was placed as Spitfire pilot with No. 129 Squadron at RAF Westhampnett, with which he flew a total of 79 sorties before he was shot down by a German fighter over Octeville-sur-Mer, North of Le Havre on June 5th, 1942. His remains were never discovered.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Reserve-Tweede Luitenant-Vlieger (Pilot Officer)

Awarded on:

October 16th, 1941

For escaping from occupied Holland with a stolen Fokker T.VIII Waterplane.

5th Award.
Royal Decree No 24. dated 16th October 1941.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Reserve-Tweede Luitenant-Vlieger (Pilot Officer)

Unit:

1e Jachtvliegtuigafdeling, 2e Luchtvaartregiment, Wapen der Militaire Luchtvaart

Awarded on:

April 22nd, 1948

Awarded for the shooting of an enemy plane with his Fokker D.XXI fighter over Ypenburg on May 10th 1940.

550th Award.
Royal Decree No 77. dated 22nd April 1948.
Awarded poshumously.
Second VK awarded in the form of a number "2" to be attached to the ribbon of the first VK.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Sally-Anne Heygate
• - MEIJER, H.G. & VIS, R., Het Vliegerkruis, De Bataafsche Leeuw, Amsterdam, 1997.
  - The Dutch Medals Page
  - - Archief Ton van den Hurk